Adding an experienced corporate and securities lawyer to its New York office, Venable LLP announced that Michael R. Manley, a veteran general counsel serving investment management firms and operating companies, had joined the firm as a partner.
Mr. Manley arrives from New York asset manager ICON Capital, where he most recently served as managing director and counsel. While at ICON, Mr. Manley helped launch CĪON Investment Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser, and CĪON Investment Corporation, a business development company. He served as general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary for both CĪON entities.
Mr. Manley managed the day-to-day legal and compliance functions for the two CĪON entities, with responsibility for developing and implementing comprehensive compliance programs, including establishing corporate charters, corporate governance policies and various policies and procedures regarding code of ethics, insider trading, custody and SEC reporting. He negotiated agreements with swap counterparties, custodians, consultants, insurers and other fund providers.
Mr. Manley was previously managing director and counsel at Plainfield Asset Management, an established investment adviser. Mr. Manley managed the day-to-day legal and compliance affairs for Plainfield Direct, a business development company managed by Plainfield Asset Management. He developed and implemented various compliance policies and procedures for Plainfield Direct, particularly with respect to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
From 1999-2007, Mr. Manley held a variety of executive posts with PartMiner, Inc., a leading provider of procurement and IT services to the electronics industry. That included a five-year term as president and member of the Executive Committee responsible for managing day-to-day global operations of all business units and subsidiaries, including affiliates in seven countries.
He oversaw PartMiner’s real estate, human resources, technology/IT and marketing functions, and served as president of the company’s information services unit. He negotiated enterprise transactions with five of the top 10 electronics contract manufacturers worldwide. During his tenure, he served as the company’s general counsel and secretary, overseeing corporate affairs and numerous transactions. Among many accomplishments during his tenure, he helped develop a global electronic component marketplace as well as a cutting-edge privacy policy to safeguard proprietary information across the company’s sales platform.
“Michael is a wonderful addition to our corporate group in New York, bringing broad experience at the highest levels of business,” said Edmund O’Toole, managing partner of Venable’s New York office. “He’s served as a top executive of a successful tech company during the Internet boom and downturn, and as a general counsel and compliance chief for two leading investment management firms. Michael is a consummate corporate adviser with a keen understanding of the issues faced by management on a daily basis – his counsel will be invaluable to our clients on many levels, including transactions and capital markets, but also best practices and corporate governance.”
Mr. Manley commented: “In considering a return to private practice, I found Venable an extremely comfortable fit with my background. The firm works with many entrepreneurial and middle-market companies, advising on all aspects of business strategy and corporate affairs, as well as compliance or litigation. I’ve known several of the New York partners for some time, including employment partners Michael Volpe and Brian Clark. I’m looking forward to leveraging my legal and business experience to assist Venable in continuing to grow its New York office.”
Mr. Manley began his career as a tax associate in the corporate consulting group at Coopers & Lybrand in the early 1990s. He developed the Internet and New Media practice at a venerable Wall Street law firm. He received his J.D. from Fordham University Law School (1991) and his B.A. from Yale University (1988).
